Related Videos

Alleged separatist rally shooter Richard Henry Bain made anti-separatist rants, references to Jesus Christ and talked about Quebec partition at a court hearing Friday while claiming he was "75% fit" to stand trial for murder.

Bain might have to proceed without his defence lawyer, who requested Friday to be dropped from the case that grows more bizarre with every appearance by the fishing-lodge owner.

Wearing a dark sport coat and white collared shirt with no tie, Bain greeted the packed courtroom by saying "grace and peace on all of you from Christ our Lord and saviour."

At his last court appearance in December, the 62-year-old called himself a "Christian soldier" who was "chosen by God ... to bring peace to the English and French in Quebec."

On Friday he took full advantage of judge Jean-Paul Braun's decision to allow him to speak.

He interrupted the judge and his own lawyer several times, asserting his right to an English trial and claiming he would be "beaten up" if he's released into the general population of an east-end jail.

At the end of the hearing, he grew irate at Crown prosecutor Eliane Perreault over a recording of a media interview he gave last September.

"You promised the tape three months ago," he said, raising his voice as court officers moved in.

He then launched into a rant about Montreal separating from Quebec and joining the rest of Canada.

"You're afraid of the vision that Montreal should separate from the separatists," he said as the judge quickly adjourned the case and officers started to clear the courtroom.

When one officer grabbed his arm, he barked "don't touch me," and then continued on his rant before he was escorted out, laughing all the way.

Earlier in the hearing Bain expressed annoyance that a report into his mental state was written in French, prompting the judge to order that the document be translated into English before the case resumes next Friday.

Bain had previously refused to be assessed by a French-speaking psychiatrist.

The psychiatric report will remain confidential until it's filed in court but Bain said doctors have determined he's "75% fit" to stand trial for the murder of stage technician Denis Blanchette in Montreal last Sept. 4.

The election-night shooting disrupted a victory speech by Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, who has since said the rampage was an assassination attempt.